One way to build a more compassionate and conscious family is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is the simple technique of paying attention to the present moment in a nonjudgemental way. Once we calm the thoughts in our head, we are able to tap into a part of ourselves that we lose sight of in our day-to-day busyness and schedules. That part of us that is truth, kindness, creativity, peace, and love. Enabling connect within and with others in a meaningful, positive way and even decrease anxiety and increase our happiness. Mindfulness is available to all…continue reading →

When I started my blog EveryDayEveryMom almost two years ago, I had no idea what direction it would take. I wanted to capture my experiences in motherhood before it passed by—as many mothers before me warned me that it would. It's true that in what seems like a blink of an eye—even though the days themselves seemed to last lifetimes. My children have grown from babies to now toddler, preschool and kindergarten-aged. I see how much I have grown too. Here are a few truths I have learned along the way Being a parent is truly different…continue reading →

One way to feel more at peace in our busy days, is to be tuned in to the things that fill us up. Awareness is the first step. Our days will be busy no matter what. When we choose to fill ourself us up first, we show up as the highest version of ourself at home, at work, in our relationships—in all the different areas of our life. Join me for a PeacefulMama workshop next Friday, August 18 at 10am at New Moms (formerly Parenthesis) in Oak Park! We’ll have time to reflect…continue reading →

It’s when our children aren’t cooperating and we’re experiencing stress in our lives that we need to practice mindful, conscious parenting more than ever. Yet, it's during these overwhelming times that we lose our Zen self. Whatever you want to call it—being calm, centered, mindful, or zen—requires daily attention, just like anything good does. Cathy Cassani Adams and Todd Adams, the hosts of the Zen Parenting Radio, define Zen parenting as: “As a Zen Parent you learn to trust your instincts, focus on what is working, and find a healthy life balance. You make it…continue reading →

We were at a crowded indoor play space, where many of us find ourselves during the cold and rainy months. I was complaining about the crowds, how far away we had to park, how chaotic it seemed. Then I realized something… my kids weren’t complaining at all. They didn't even seem to notice these negatives that were consuming me. I paused and changed the way I felt about the experience in front if me. By accepting what is, we can let go of our expectations about how we wanted it to be or…continue reading →

Join us for the Peaceful Mamas workshop where we reflect on the mama we want to be, know we can be, but don't always have the tools and time to actually be. To be at peace in our parenting, we need to feel at peace within ourselves. We'll learn about self-compassion to accept ourselves where we are now and mindfulness and positivity to move us along with more intention. In the day-to-day busyness and demands, we can lose ourselves. As we reconnect inside, we tap into our own inner knowledge that is there to guide…continue reading →

Could taking care of ourselves be the greatest gift we give our children? What does it mean “be in the moment” and how can we “be present” when we’re pulled in so many different directions? Meet Sheryl Stoller, a mother of three grown children and certified parent coach, who draws from personal and professional experience to guide parents on their unique family journey. She shares her story of reaching a crisis point with her family. She managed to get through by literally taking it one second at a time. That meant recognizing when concerns…continue reading →

Dr. Shefali, author of The Conscious Parent and the Awakened Family has a 7day conscious Parenting Challenge. Below is my reflection on the first day of her challenge, which is Awareness. As I pay attention to my own level of awareness, I can see how easy it is trail into a state of not being 'unaware.' I can also see that I am the only one who can control whether I am aware or not. Conscious parenting is focused on changing what we can control - only ourselves. It's easy to blame our…continue reading →

In the busyness of our days, we can sometimes feel like life is just happening to us but really we are shaping our lives by the choices we make everyday. When we focus on awareness, we can be more conscious of the choices we are making and start creating a life that is our own that we can feel content about at the end of our busy day. Meet Karli, a mom of two boys, who has found that even though life is busier with children, it’s much more colorful. She is a designer…continue reading →

Stepping away from our everyday opens up our minds and hearts and gives us new perspective. We can see our world differently, sometimes with deeper compassion for others and appreciation for what we have. We can do this where we are by taking a mental break or physically by traveling someplace else—a different neighborhood nearby or part of the world. Meet Noele Sutherland McLain, a mom of a son who is four, who hasn't just traveled, but lived in all different parts of the world. He son actually holds three passports, one for Scotland where she…continue reading →

Nobody has it all figured out when it comes to parenting. Too often we put a mask up that everything is rosy when it's not what we are really feeling. We all experience the inevitable ups and downs so we do so why do so many of us feel we can't be truthful about how we are really feeling? If we're holding on to negative or fearful feelings, covering them up doesn't make them go away. We have to bring awareness to those feelings to change them and make room for all there…continue reading →

With so much of parenting being unknown and unfamiliar, it can make us worry a lot because we tend to fear things we don’t understand. How do we trust more and worry less? Meet Shelby Spear, mother of three college-aged children, who shares a unique perspective on parenting now that her children are out of the house. As she looks back, she reflects on how important it is to trust instead of over protect. As a self-proclaimed ‘worrier,’ she admits allowing trust is easier said than done. Examining our worries is worth the…continue reading →

You are enough, right now. How would our days be different if this was the core message moms heard? We accept our whole self, knowing we are doing the best can in this moment. We realize our best is different from every other person's best so we celebrate everyone's uniqueness and no longer give in to thoughts of judgement and comparison of ourselves and others. Meet Lindsey Monroe, mother of two boys, birth doula and photographer, who is feeling fulfilled because she found a balance that works for her. She's learned to lean into the chaos of her life right…continue reading →

Imagine a new routine with your family each morning. It’s not rushed or chaotic. You wake up a little earlier than you have to and do some simple, proven practices to improve everyone’s mindset A shift takes place when we devote time for ourself at the start of the day—we start to feel more confidence, compassion, and gratitude. This is a glimpse into Miracle Morning for Parents & Families, a new book coming out September 12. Meet Lindsay McCarthy, mother of two and co-author of the book, with her husband Mike McCarthy and…continue reading →

Health, wealth (abundance), love, and happiness. We want and deserve all of these things. We actually are all of these things at our core. We just have to dig down inside to heal ourself and let it emerge. It starts with our own health and well-being. We have to first feel healthy within our self to feel and appreciate all the abundance around us. It's an inside-out job. Meet Natalie Sager, a mother of two boys, and holistic health coach whose mission is helping mothers get control of their health and feel abundance in…continue reading →